A Question for Jesus: Mark 12:18-27

From: The Servant's Heart: Bible Talks on Mark

Mark 12:18‑27 • 3 min. read • grade level: 7

When men of Jerusalem asked questions of Jesus, it was not because they wanted to learn, but to try to puzzle Him and show Him to be wrong. But, instead, they were proven wrong. His answers were so plain that we may now learn from them about the most important things we could wish to know.

One question the men asked was, If a woman’s husband died and she married again, whose wife would she be when the dead rise?

Those men did not believe that the dead ever rose, or that people had a life that did not end. They spoke in ridicule of such a hope, although they quoted from a law given by God (Deut. 25:5⁵If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. (Deuteronomy 25:5)). They should have known the law was for life on earth, not for heaven.

Jesus answered that they were wrong, because they knew “not the scriptures, neither the power of God.” He said that the dead shall rise, but that there will not be family relationships as on earth. He said, “They neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” (See also Luke 20:34-36³⁴And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: ³⁵But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: ³⁶Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34‑36)).

God has given us those we now love so much, and we can be sure it will be far more wonderful as His family in heaven — all dear to all.

Proof From Scripture

To prove to the men that those who believe God would rise, Jesus repeated words God said to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Ex. 3:16¹⁶Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: (Exodus 3:16)).

Those men were dead when God said the words, and Jesus said that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Therefore, those men were living, although not in bodies on earth, but with God (Eccl. 12:7⁷Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)).

The “everlasting” promises were not yet fulfilled, but must be, so their bodies must be raised (Gen. 17:7-8⁷And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. ⁸And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (Genesis 17:7‑8)).

The men who asked the question had the writings by Daniel and others about resurrection: “Them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and contempt” (Dan. 12:2²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2); see also Job 19:25-27²⁵For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ²⁶And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ²⁷Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25‑27); Psa. 17:15¹⁵As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15); Isa. 26:19¹⁹Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19)).

Resurrection

At another time Jesus told them much the same words as Daniel used. He said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of [judgment]” (John 5:28-29²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29)).

It will be the voice of the Lord Jesus, the Son of Man, that they shall hear, but the last book of the Bible tells of time between the resurrection of those who believe God and those who do not (Rev. 20:5-6, 12-14⁵But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5‑6)
¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:12‑14)).

The Lord Jesus also said He was the resurrection and the life. Therefore it is by Him that those who believe God have life with Him. Also because of Him, their bodies will be raised (1 Cor. 15).

“God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 John 5:11¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)).

Further Meditation

1. What other Bible characters asked insincere questions?

2. On what occasion did Jesus say, “I am the resurrection and the life”?

3. Some helpful comments on resurrection can be found in The First Epistle to the Corinthians by H. Smith.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.